FIA: Two more teams in 2015?
The FIA is in talks with at least three teams for 2015, but while the tender appeared to offer only one spot, ultimately two structures might be coming in.
It’s the German site Motorsport-Total (linked to Bild) that reveals the information: the FIA could authorize the entry of two teams for the 2015 Formula 1 season, following the call for tenders launched at the beginning of December.
Currently, three dossiers have leaked, and at the moment it is impossible to say if other brands or companies have shown interest in the challenge. These three candidates for entry into F1 in 2015 or 2016 are Haas Racing Developments, Zoran Stefanovic, and a Romanian group supported by Colin Kolles, among others.
According to the German site, two of these three applications would provide sufficient guarantees to consider a dual-entry in the Championship. If Haas already has, as we explained to you a few weeks ago, quality facilities and support that suggest the team is the best equipped, the Romanian project is also taken very seriously by the authorities. The publication also reports that both structures already have their engine supplier: while Haas has been linked to Ferrari since the announcement of its application, on the Romanian side, the mystery remains. Rumors at the beginning of January mentioned a possible collaboration with Renault through Dacia, but the Romanian subsidiary quickly denied it.
On the side of the authorities, a struggle is reportedly raging between Jean Todt’s FIA and Bernie Ecclestone’s FOM: for the International Federation, more would be better and even if the call for tenders was for a single team, the body would favorably view a grid of 13 teams, which is the maximum allowed by the regulations (furthermore, FIA-approved circuits must mandatorily provide at least thirteen slots reserved for competitors). Conversely, for Formula One Management, the goal remains to favor reducing the number of teams to allow revenue concentration and therefore an increase in quality. This aligns with Bernie Ecclestone’s proposal made a few months ago to reduce the number of teams to 8 while allowing three cars per team.
This internal conflict should reach its conclusion quickly: indeed, until February 10, candidates can provide additional information on their application to the FIA before it meets, consults, or even visits the structures to make a decision. A final decision is expected on February 28.
